Task display switching method portable apparatus and portable communications apparatus

ABSTRACT

A task display switching method, a portable apparatus and a portable communications apparatus which, when a plurality of software applications are activated and processed in parallel, make it possible to switch a display between each of the software applications with ease. According to the task display switching method, a portable apparatus capable of processing a plurality of tasks in parallel and of displaying a plurality of display regions for displaying data, an icon associated with a task displayed on a first display region is generated automatically or manually, and the generated icon is displayed in a second display region. When any icon thus generated is selected from a plurality of icons displayed on the second display region, the task associated with the selected icon is restored and displayed in the first display region.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/073,602,filed Mar. 28, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 11/514,245, filed Sep. 1, 2006, which is divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/301,598, filed Nov. 22, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,123,945), which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2001-359284, filed on Nov. 26, 2001. The entire contents of each of theabove-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a task display switching method, aportable apparatus and a portable communications apparatus. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a task display switchingmethod, a portable apparatus and a portable communications apparatus,which, in a case where a plurality of application software are run andprocessed in parallel in a portable phone apparatus or the like, mayeasily carry out a switching operation to switch the display to eachapplication software.

2. Description of the Related Art

Technological advances in portable information apparatuses, such as aportable telephone and the like, have been remarkable, and functionssuch as gaming, digital camera, audio reproduction and communicationssuch as internet connection have been added, thereby improving theirmulti-functionality. Such advances may be expected to be further fueledwith the introduction of the next generation of portable informationapparatuses. Also, new technology and new ideas are introduced withrespect to the display monitors for these apparatuses, such as colordisplays, liquid crystal sub-displays and the like.

SUMMARY

However, although the multi-functionality and the introduction of newtechnology are being advanced as mentioned above, conventional portableinformation apparatuses have a problem in that in activating and usingan additional application software while using some other applicationsoftware, it is difficult to instantly switch the display between theapplications.

Specifically, in portable telephones and the like, in order to accessthe Internet while writing an e-mail, a user has to save the e-mail andclose the e-mail screen. Once the e-mail screen is closed, a top screenis displayed (a screen displayed when the power is turned on). The userselects, for example, “selection menu” from the top screen so that taskitems are displayed. If the user selects “Internet Connection,” forexample, from the items, a browser is activated and displayed on thedisplay. Thus, the user can access a desired web site. However, if theuser wishes to resume writing an e-mail while browsing a web site, theuser must perform a tedious operation, where the user must close thebrowser to get to the top screen, again select the selection menu fromthe top screen so that the task items are displayed, select “CreateElectronic Mail,” for example, and select the previously saved e-mail sothat it is displayed on the display.

There also are portable information apparatuses having a screen memofunction for storing a displayed screen. However, this function cannotbe applied to all displayed screens. Further, in order to display thecontent of the screen memo, the user must, much like what is describedabove get to the selection menu from the top screen and then select, forexample, the item “Screen Memo.” Thus, in terms of the effort on thepart of the user, there is not much of a difference.

On the other hand, in the next generation of portable telephones whichwill be more multi-functional than those presently available, it may beanticipated that there will arise a need for carrying out a plurality ofprocesses at the same time (parallel processing), such as browsing a website and listening to music at the same time, while writing an e-mailevery now and then. However, with what is available, an operation inwhich the top screen is displayed, a selection menu is selected, thetask items are displayed, and the desired item is selected to activatethe desired application software so that it is displayed on the screenbecomes an operation sequence for using an application software. And inorder to activate and display a different application software, thissequence must be repeated. Hence, there lies a problem in that theswitching operation for switching between a plurality of applicationsoftware processed simultaneously, and having the screen of the desiredapplication software displayed becomes further tedious.

The present invention provides a task display switching method, whichcan easily carry out a display switching operation to switch between aplurality of application software when they are activated and processedin parallel in a portable information apparatus, and the like.

In order to solve or alleviate the above-mentioned problems, the taskdisplay switching method, the portable apparatus and the portablecommunications apparatus according to the present invention are designedso as to have the following configuration (steps).

In a portable apparatus capable of processing a plurality of tasks(application software) in parallel and of displaying a plurality ofdisplay regions which display data, an icon corresponding to a task(application software) displayed in a first display region serving as amain display region is generated automatically or manually, thegenerated icon is displayed in a second display region serving as asub-display region. When an icon is selected from the icons displayed inthe second display region, the task (application software) correspondingto the selected icon is restored and displayed in the first displayregion automatically or manually. Consequently, when a plurality oftasks (application software) are processed in parallel, a switchingoperation for switching between the tasks (application software) may beperformed smoothly.

In addition, by automatically or manually generating an icon such thatit corresponds to the most recent state of the task, to a state in whichthe task is suspended or stopped, or to an initial state of the task,and such that the icon is generated by reducing the image displayed inthe first display region, and that they are automatically or manuallyerased from the second display region when restoration is performed,because the icons may be appropriately generated so as to correspondwith a predetermined state from among a most recent state, a suspendedstate and an initial state of the task (application software), the task(application software) may be started in a desired state when resumingthe task (application software) in the first (main) display region.

The portable communications apparatus according to the present inventionis capable of processing a plurality of tasks in parallel, and comprisesa display unit having a first display region for displaying data, ahinge unit having a second display region for displaying data, anoperation unit having operating means for receiving commands and inputfrom a user, and an icon generating means for generating iconscorresponding to the tasks. The display unit and the operation unit arejoined via the hinge unit, and the portable communications apparatus maybe opened/closed with the hinge unit as a shaft. The second displayregion is provided such that it may be viewed when the display unit andthe operation unit are rotated and are thereby placed in a closed state,and is designed so as to be able to indicate the status of theapparatus. As such, when the apparatus is in use (opened), it ispossible to switch smoothly between multiple tasks (applicationsoftware) processed in parallel, and even when folded and not in use(closed), data which indicate communication conditions (signal fieldstrength and the like), and the apparatus status such as remainingbattery capacity, the time, presence of stored data and the like. Thus,a small display region may be utilized efficiently.

As mentioned above, in multi-functional and downsized (in terms oflength, size, weight and thickness) portable apparatuses, such asportable telephones, PDAs and the like, by generating an iconcorresponding to the application software (tasks) displayed in the firstdisplay region serving as the main display region, displaying thegenerated icon in the second display region serving as the sub-displayregion, and selecting the desired icon from the icons displayed in thesecond display region, the desired application software (task) may berestored and displayed in the first display region. Thus, when aplurality of application software (tasks) are processed in parallel, theswitching operation for switching between these application software(tasks) may be performed smoothly, and the ease and speed of theswitching operation are improved.

Further, by generating the icons such that they correspond to apredetermined state from among a most recent state, a suspended orstopped state and an initial state of the application software, theapplication software may be started at the desired state when it isrestored and displayed on the main display unit to resume theapplication software. Thus, the ease and speed of the applicationsoftware resuming procedure are improved.

In, for example, downloading data, if the downloading screen iscontinuously displayed on the main display unit (the first displayregion), the content displayed on the display is frequently updated.However, if an icon is displayed on the sub-display unit (the seconddisplay region), there no longer is any need to update the screen. Thus,an embodiment of the present invention also has an advantage in that thepower consumed in updating the screen is saved, which leads to lowerpower consumption.

Further, in a foldable portable communications apparatus, such as aportable telephone, PDA and the like, in which the display unit and theoperation unit may be rotated and opened/closed with the hinge unit as ashaft, by providing the second (sub) display region in the hinge unit,and in a position such that the second display region may be viewed whenthe apparatus is folded (closed), switching operations for switchingbetween a plurality of application software processed in parallel may beperformed smoothly while the apparatus is in use (opened), as describedabove, and, further, even when the apparatus is folded and not in use(closed), the second display region may be utilized effectively bydisplaying data indicating communication conditions such as the signalfield strength, and apparatus conditions such as remaining batterycapacity, the time, presence of stored data and the like. Hence, thereis an advantage in that the second display region may be usedeffectively without affecting the size of the apparatus, while at thesame time improving the ease and speed of operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are external views of a foldable portable telephoneaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 1C is an explanatory view illustrating display examples for adisplay unit;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the inner configurationof the portable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view schematically showing the relationshipbetween a main display unit and a pointer type icon in the portabletelephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIGS. 4A through 4C are explanatory views schematically showing therelationship between the internal state of a memory and the main andsub-display units in a case where the pointer type icon is used in theportable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing the relationshipbetween the main display unit and a copy type icon in the portabletelephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIGS. 6A through 6C are explanatory views schematically showing therelationship between the internal state of the memory and the main andsub-display units in a case where the copy type icon is used in theportable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view schematically showing the relationshipbetween the main display unit and a reduction type icon in the portabletelephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIGS. 8A through 8C are explanatory views schematically showing therelationship between the internal state of the memory and the main andsub-display units in a case where the reduction type icon is used in theportable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a task display switchingmethod in the portable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing an example of a specificoperation of the portable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of a specificoperation of the portable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an example of a specificoperation of the portable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an example of a specificoperation of the portable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B; and

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing an example of display positionsfor the main display unit and the sub-display unit of the portableapparatus and the portable communications apparatus according to thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of a task display switching method, a portable apparatus anda portable communications apparatus according to the present inventionwill be described below with reference to the attached drawings.However, the drawings are presented for purposes of explanation only,and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

The portable telephone shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is an example of anembodiment of the portable apparatus and portable communicationsapparatus according to the present invention. What is shown is afoldable portable telephone 100, which is equipped with functions suchas accessing the Internet or the like to browse websites, and creating,transmitting and receiving e-mail and the like.

FIG. 1A is an external view of the portable telephone 100 in use, andthere are shown a display unit 120 having a main display unit 122, ahinge unit 140 on which a sub-display unit 142 is provided, and anoperation unit 160 for performing operations with, such as inputtingdata.

The display unit 120 and the operation unit 160 are connected via thehinge unit 140, and are rotatable with the hinge unit 140 serving as ashaft so as to be opened/closed. FIG. 1B shows the portable telephone100 at rest (closed and not in use), and the display unit 120 and theoperation unit 160 are folded with the hinge unit 140 as a shaft so asto overlap.

The display unit 120 has the main display unit 122 as a first displayregion for displaying, for example, an e-mail screen or a web browser,and a speaker 104 for telephone calls and the like. The display unit 120is rotatably connected to the operation unit 160 via the hinge unit 140.

The hinge unit 140 is provided with the sub-display unit 142 fordisplaying one or more icons each corresponding to an applicationsoftware (task) and so forth, or data and the like. The hinge unit 140rotatably connects the display unit 120 and the operation unit 160. Inaddition, the sub-display unit 142 is provided in a position such thatthe displayed content may be viewed from outside even when the portabletelephone is not in use (i.e. when the display unit 120 and theoperation unit 160 are folded such that they overlap) (refer to FIG.1B).

The operation unit 160 may have: input/call keys 162, such as numericalkeys, a manner button, a memo button, a call button, a clear button, anend button and the like; operation keys 164 for moving a cursor up,down, right or left in the screen on the main display unit 122 and/orsub-display unit 142, scrolling, confirming and executing an operation,specifying a data range and the like; a microphone 108 for use during atelephone conversation and the like, and the operation unit 160 isrotatably connected to the display unit 120 via the hinge unit 140.

In FIG. 2, the portable telephone 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B is shown tohave an inner configuration as illustrated. In FIG. 2, there are shownan antenna 101, the speaker 104 for use during, for example, a telephoneconversation, an apparatus speaker 106, the microphone 108 for useduring a telephone conversation, a duplexer 111, a receiving unit (RX)112, a transmitting unit (TX) 113, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 114,a control section 115, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 116, a ROM (ReadOnly Memory) 117, the operation unit 160, the main display unit 122 andthe sub-display unit 142. Moreover, there are shown an imaging controlunit 118, a camera 119, an antenna 102 and a short-range wirelesscommunications unit 105.

The antenna 101 is connected to the duplexer 111. During a receivingoperation, a signal received by the antenna 101 is sent to the duplexer111. During a transmitting operation, a transmission signal from theduplexer 111 is sent to the antenna 101, and a radio signal is radiatedfrom the antenna 101.

The duplexer 111 is connected to the antenna 101, the receiving unit(RX) 112 and the transmitting unit (TX) 113. During the receivingoperation, the signal received by the antenna 101 is sent to thereceiving unit (RX) 112 through the duplexer 111. During thetransmitting operation, the transmission signal from the transmittingunit (TX) 113 is sent to the antenna 101 through the duplexer 111.

The receiving unit (RX) 112 is connected to the duplexer 111 on one end,and to the DSP 114 on the other end. The receiving unit (RX) 112demodulates the reception signal from the duplexer 111 and sends thedemodulated signal to the DSP 114. The transmitting unit (TX) 113 isconnected to the duplexer 111 on one end, and to the DSP 114 on theother end. The transmitting unit (TX) 113 modulates the transmissionsignal from the DSP 114, and sends the modulated signal to the duplexer111.

The speaker 104 and the apparatus speaker 106 are connected to the DSP114, and they output audio signals processed by the DSP 114. Also, themicrophone 108 is connected to the DSP 114, and sends inputted audio tothe DSP 114 for processing.

The DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 114 is connected to the transmittingunit (TX) 113, the receiving unit (RX) 112, the speaker 104 for useduring a telephone conversation, the apparatus speaker 106, themicrophone 108 and the control unit 115. Under the control of thecontrol unit 115, the DSP 114 processes audio input from the microphone108 or reception signals from the receiving unit (RX) 112, and outputsthe processed signals to the speaker 104, or processes data and the likefrom the control unit 115, and outputs the processed data to thetransmitting unit (TX) 113 or the apparatus speaker 106.

The control unit 115 is connected to the DSP 114, the operation unit160, the RAM 116, the ROM 117, the main display unit 122, thesub-display unit 142, the imaging control unit 118 and the short-rangewireless communications unit 105. The control unit 115 controls therespective connected units in accordance with a control program in theROM 117 (or the RAM 116).

The RAM (Random Access Memory) 116 is connected to the control unit 115,and is capable of performing parallel processing of a plurality ofapplication software (tasks). The RAM 116 performs data processing inaccordance with the control unit 115, and, for example, switchingprocesses for switching between application software (tasks) to bedisplayed on the main display unit 122 or the sub-display unit 142 areexecuted. The tasks mentioned above are not limited to applicationsoftware, and may include, for example, phone call information (such ascumulative call time), a transmission log, and an icon corresponding toa screen for showing such information may be generated.

The ROM (Read Only Memory) 117 is connected to the control unit 115, andstores a control program (an operating system) for controlling theapparatus, identification information (telephone number, apparatusnumber and the like), a plurality of application software (tasks), imagedata of one or more icons, and the like. Under the control of thecontrol unit 115, required information (data) and programs are sent tothe RAM 116 and the like as needed.

The operation unit 160 is connected to the control unit 115, and, viathe control unit 115, gives operation instructions, such as inputtingtext, placing a phone call, display switching and the like by way of theinput/call keys 162 or the operation keys 164 (refer to FIG. 1A).

The main display unit 122 is connected to the control unit 115. As thefirst display region, the main display unit 122 follows instructionsfrom the control unit 115, and displays application software (tasks) inthe form of, for example, an e-mail screen, a web browser or the like.

The sub-display unit 142 is connected to the control unit 115. As asecond display region, the sub-display unit 142 follows instructionsfrom the control unit 115, and displays one or more icons each generatedin correspondence with an application software (task) displayed on themain display unit 122, data and the like. If the apparatus is not in use(closed), the sub-display unit 142 displays, as shown in FIG. 1C,apparatus statuses, such as signal field strength (142 g), remainingbattery capacity (142 b), the time (142 c), information on apparatussettings, such as whether manner mode is on or off, for example) (142d), presence of stored data (stack) (142 e) and the like, through iconsand the like. Moreover, it is naturally possible to display these iconsindicating the respective apparatus statuses in combination as in 142 f.

The antenna 102 is connected to the short-range wireless communicationsunit 105, and transmits and receives radio waves for short-rangewireless communications such as infrared communications (IrDA) orBluetooth.

The short-range wireless communications unit 105 is connected to theantenna 102 on one end, and is connected to the control unit 115 on theother end. The short-range wireless communications unit 105 establishesa connection with, for example, a laptop personal computer complyingwith the blue-tooth specification, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant),another portable telephone or the like without a cable, and transmitsand receives voice or data.

The imaging control unit 118 is connected to the camera 119 on one end,and to the control unit 115 on the other end. The imaging control unit118 imports a captured image data from the camera 119, and performsimage data processing such as displaying the captured image on the maindisplay unit 122 (or the sub-display unit 142) via the control unit 115,or storing the captured image in the RAM 116 and the like.

The camera 119 is connected to the imaging control unit 118, and sendsan image which has been shot to the imaging control unit 118.

The relationship between the icon displayed on the sub-display unit 142and the screen displayed on the main display unit 122 in the portabletelephone 100 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIG. 2 will be describedbelow.

The icon displayed on the sub-display unit 142 is classified broadlyinto (1) a pointer type, (2) a copy type and (3) a reduction type.

[1] Pointer Type Icon

As shown schematically in FIG. 3, the pointer type icon is an icon whichis generated in correspondence with the processing of the task displayedon the main display unit 122 while the task is active. When the pointertype icon is selected, the most recent state of the task correspondingto this icon is restored and displayed on the main display unit 122.

FIGS. 4A through 4C are diagrams schematically showing the relationshipbetween the internal state of the memory and the main and sub-displayunits 122 and 142. The task displayed on the main display unit 122 isexecuted in a main region 122 a in the memory, and a different task ofwhich processing is continuing is stored in a sub-region 142 a, and thetask is displayed as a pointer type icon on the sub-display unit 142.

In FIG. 4A, task (A) is currently executed, and the task (A) isdisplayed on the main display unit 122. It is assumed that nothing isdisplayed on the sub-display unit 142.

In order to switch to a different task (B) while the processing of thetask (A) is continued, if the operation keys 164 and the like are usedto start the task (B), a pointer type icon 10 corresponding to the task(A) is automatically or manually generated, and the icon 10 is displayedon the sub-display unit 142. At this point, in the memory, the task (A)processed in the main region 122 a corresponding to the main displayunit 122 is switched to the sub-region 142 a, and the task (A) ismonitored by a pointer P.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, the task (B) begins processingin the main region 122 a, and the task (B) is displayed on the maindisplay unit 122. At this point, processing of the task (A) is continuedin the sub-region 142 a in the memory, and the most recent states (A(1)). . . (A(n)) thereof are monitored by the pointer P.

If the task (B) is terminated, stopped or suspended as shown in FIG. 4C,the task executed in the main region 122 a is automatically switchedfrom the task (B), currently under execution, to the task (A). The mostrecent state (A(8)), for example, of the task (A) monitored by thepointer P is restored in the main region 122 a, and the most recentstate (A(8)) of the task (A) is displayed on the main display unit 122.At the same time, the icon 10 (corresponding to task (A)) is erased fromthe sub-display unit 142 (and the sub-region 142 a). However, it is alsopossible to keep the icon 10.

The automatic task switching operation may be such that switching to atask that was activated immediately before as described above, or to apredefined or arbitrarily specified task is performed.

Alternatively, when terminating, stopping or suspending the task (B),switching from the task (B) to the task (A) may be done by performing apredetermined operation with the operation keys 164 and the like toswitch from the main display unit 122 to the sub-display unit 142, andthen selecting the icon 10 corresponding to the task (A).

[2] Copy Type Icon

The copy type icon, as shown schematically in FIG. 5, is an icongenerated in correspondence with the task displayed on the main displayunit 122 in a suspended or stopped state, or in a state in which theinitial state is maintained (copied). When the copy type icon isselected, the task corresponding to this icon is restored and displayedon the main display unit 122 in a state at which the task was suspendedor stopped, or in its initial state.

FIGS. 6A through 6C are diagrams schematically showing the relationshipbetween the internal state of the memory and what is displayed on themain and sub-display units 122 and 142 when the copy type icon is used.The task displayed on the main display unit 122 is executed in the mainregion 122 a in the memory, and a different task in its initial state orin a state in which processing is suspended (stopped) is stored in thesub-region 142 a, and is displayed as the copy type icon on thesub-display unit 142.

In FIG. 6A, the task (A) is being executed, and the task (A) isdisplayed on the main display unit 122. It is assumed that nothing isdisplayed on the sub-display unit 142.

In suspending (stopping) a task (A) and switching to a different task(B), if the task (B) is activated through a predetermined operationusing the operation keys 164 and the like, a copy type icon 10corresponding to the task (A) is automatically or manually generated,and the icon 10 is displayed on the sub-display unit 142. At this point,in the memory, processing of the task (A) which is undergoing processingin the main region 122 a corresponding to the main display unit 122 isswitched to the sub-region 142 a in a state in which the processing ofthe task (A) is suspended (stopped) or in its initial state, and thetask (A) is monitored by the pointer P such that it is activated in thesuspended (or stopped) state or in its initial state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, the activated task (B) beginsprocessing in the main region 122 a, and the task (B) is displayed onthe main display unit 122. At this point, in the sub-region 142 a of thememory, the task (A) is still in the suspended (stopped) or initialstate (A(1)).

If the task (B) is terminated, stopped or suspended, as shown in FIG.6C, automatic switching from the task (B) under execution in the mainregion 122 a to the task (A) is performed. The task (A) monitored by thepointer P is restored in the main region 122 a in the state (A(1)) atwhich processing thereof was previously suspended (stopped), and thetask (A) in the state (A(1)) is displayed on the main display unit 122.The icon 10 is erased from the sub-display unit 142 (and the sub-region142 a). However, it is also possible to keep the icon 10.

The automatic task switching operation may be such that switching to animmediately preceding task, or to a predefined or arbitrarily definedtask is performed.

Moreover, in terminating, stopping, or suspending the task (B), apredetermined operation using the operation keys 164 and the like may becarried out to switch from the main display unit 122 to the sub-displayunit 142, and the icon 10 of the task (A) may be selected to therebyswitch from the task (B) to the task (A).

[3] Reduction Type Icon

The reduction type icon, as shown schematically in FIG. 7, is an icongenerated by reducing the screen of the task displayed on the maindisplay unit 122 as it is. Much like the pointer type icon mentionedabove, the reduction type icon may restore and display the most recentstate of a task on the main display unit 122 (reduction pointer type).Alternatively, the reduction type icon may also restore a task in thestate in which it was suspended (or stopped) or in its initial state,and display the task on the main display unit 122, as in the case of thecopy type icon, (reduction copy type).

Further, if the icon displayed on the sub-display unit 142 is capable oftracking changes in the state of the task and of changing itself inaccordance therewith, much like a sub-window in a television with PinP(Picture-in-Picture) functions, checking the state of the task with theicon itself may be made possible.

FIGS. 8A through 8C are diagrams schematically showing the relationshipbetween the internal state of the memory and what is displayed on themain and sub-display units 122 and 142 when the reduction type icon isused. The task displayed on the main display unit 122 is executed in themain region 122 a in the memory, and a different task in a state inwhich processing is ongoing or suspended (stopped), or in an initialstate is stored in the sub-region 142 a, and the task is displayed as acopy type icon on the sub-display unit 142.

In FIG. 8A, a task (A) is executing, and the task (A) is displayed onthe main display unit 122. It is assumed that nothing is displayed onthe sub-display unit 142.

In switching to a different task (B) while the processing of the task(A) is continued, if the task (B) is activated through a predeterminedoperation with the operation keys 164, a reduction type icon 10, whichcorresponds to the task (A) and in which the displayed screen is reducedin scale by lowering the resolution thereof, is automatically ormanually generated, and the icon 10 is displayed on the sub-display unit142. At this point, in the memory, the task (A) processed in the mainregion 122 a corresponding to the main display unit 122 is switched tothe sub-region 142 a, and the task (A) is monitored by a pointer P.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, processing of the activated task(B) is started in the main region 122 a, and the task (B) is displayedon the main display unit 122. At the same time, processing of the task(A) is continued in the sub-region 142 a in the memory, and the mostrecent states (A(1)) . . . (A(n)) thereof are monitored by the pointerp.

When the task (B) is terminated, stopped or suspended the task executedin the main region 122 a is automatically switched, as shown in FIG. 8C,from the task (B) to the task (A). The most recent state (A(8)) of thetask (A) monitored by the pointer P is restored in the main region 122a, and the most recent state (A(8)) of the task (A) is displayed on themain display unit 122. At the same time, the icon 10 (task (A)) iserased from the sub-display unit 142 (and the sub-region 142 a).However, it is also possible to keep the icon 10.

In the automatic task switching operation, it is possible to switch tothe immediately preceding task as described above, or it is alsopossible to switch to a predefined or arbitrarily defined task.

Moreover, in terminating, stopping or suspending the task (B), switchingfrom the task (B) to the task (A) may be performed by switching from themain display unit 122 to the sub-display unit 142 through apredetermined operation with the operation keys 164 or the like, andthen selecting the icon 10 of the task (A).

Alternatively, without switching from the main display unit 122 to thesub-display unit 142, the icon 10 of the sub-display unit 142 may beselected by, for example, a special operation such as pushing the jogdial (scroll key) of the operation keys 164 and “*” of the input/callkeys 162 at the same time.

The description of the reduction type icon above is given with respectto a reduction pointer type icon in which the most recent state of thetask corresponding to the icon is displayed (restored) on the maindisplay unit 122 in a fashion similar to the pointer type icon. However,it is also possible to generate a reduction copy type icon whichperforms an operation similar to the copy type icon in which a taskcorresponding to the icon is displayed (restored) on the main displayunit 122 in the state at which the task was suspended or stopped, or inits initial state.

A specific example of the operations of the portable telephone 100 as itis used while switching between a plurality of application software(tasks) using the pointer type/copy type/reduction type icons mentionedabove will be described below with reference to a flowchart shown inFIG. 9.

The operation of the portable telephone 100 is started when the portabletelephone 100 is turned on, and it is ended unconditionally when thepower is turned off. The portable telephone 100 is, for example,equipped with functions such as creation, transmission and reception ofe-mail, accessing and browsing the Internet, gaming, taking pictures,placing phone calls, music reproduction and the like as applicationsoftware (tasks). The portable telephone 100 is capable of processing aplurality of application software (tasks) in parallel, and of generatingicons for each of the application software (tasks) and switching betweenthe tasks.

First, when the portable telephone 100, of which the display unit 120and the operation unit 160 are folded together in a closed position, isopened so as to be operable, the main display unit 122 and thesub-display unit 142 become viewable (refer to FIG. 1A), and a presettop screen is displayed (ST100). Then, when a predetermined operation isperformed with the input/call keys 162 or the operation keys 164 of theoperation unit 160, and an application software, for example, a webbrowser if accessing the Internet, is activated, the web browser isdisplayed on the main display unit 122, and the content displayed on themain display unit 122 is updated in accordance with processings andoperations performed (ST101, 102).

When an application software such as the web browser or the like isactivated, it is judged whether or not icon generation is in automaticgeneration mode (ST103).

If icon generation is in automatic generation mode, a predetermined datais retrieved from the RAM 116 or the ROM 117 to generate the icon 10(for the web browser, in this case), or the icon 10 (for the webbrowser) in which the screen on the main display unit 122 is reduced isgenerated, and the generated icon 10 is displayed on the sub-displayunit 142 (ST104, 105).

If, on the other hand, icon generation is not automatic, it is thenselected whether or not the icon is to be generated manually (ST106).

In order to generate an icon manually, a predetermined operation isperformed with the operation keys 164 and the like, and, as in the caseabove, a predetermined data is retrieved from the RAM 116 or the ROM117, thereby generating the icon 10 (for the web browser), oralternatively, the icon 10 (for the web browser) may be generated byreducing the content displayed on the main display unit 122 (ST104). Theicon 10 (for the web browser) thus generated is displayed on thesub-display unit 142 (ST105). If the icon is not to be generatedmanually, the operational flow proceeds to the processing of theapplication software (in this case, the web browser).

Subsequently, if a different application software, for example, anapplication software for writing e-mail, is activated, it is judgedwhether or not an icon 10 for this application software is alreadygenerated and displayed on the sub-display unit 142 (ST108). In thiscase, it is judged whether or not the icon for the e-mail applicationsoftware is displayed (present) on the sub-display unit 142.

If the icon 10 (for the e-mail application) is displayed (generated) onthe sub-display unit 142 (i.e. if the application is active), switchingto the application software corresponding to the icon 10, in this case,the e-mail software, is performed, and the e-mail screen is displayed onthe main display unit 122, and the content displayed is updatedregularly in accordance with processings and operations performed(ST108→ST110→ST111→ST102 . . . ).

If the icon (for the e-mail application) is not displayed (generated) onthe sub-display unit 142, it is judged whether or not the applicationsoftware (the e-mail application), whose activation is requested, is inautomatic icon generation mode (ST103).

In automatically generating the icon, a predetermined data is retrievedfrom the RAM 116 or the ROM 117 to generate the icon 10 (for the e-mailapplication), or, alternatively, the icon 10 (for the e-mailapplication) may be generated by reducing the content displayed on themain display unit 122. The icon 10 thus generated is displayed on thesub-display unit 142 (ST103, ST104, ST105).

If icon generation is not automatic, it is then selected whether or notthe icon is to be generated manually (ST106).

In the case of manual generation, a predetermined operation is performedwith the operation keys 164 and the like, and, as in the case above,predetermined data is retrieved from the RAM 116 or the ROM 117 and theicon 10 (for the e-mail application) is generated, or the icon 10 (forthe e-mail application) in which the content displayed on the maindisplay unit 122 is reduced is generated. The icon 10 thus generated isdisplayed on the sub-display unit 142 (ST104, 105). If the icon is notto be generated manually, the operational flow proceeds to theprocessing of the application software (in this case, the e-mailapplication).

Desired processing is performed with the application software (thee-mail application) currently displayed on the main display unit 122,and it is then selected whether or not processing of the applicationsoftware (the e-mail application) is to be terminated (ST109).

If the processing is not terminated, operation of the applicationsoftware (the e-mail application) is continued (ST109→ST102 . . . ).

If processing is terminated, it is judged whether or not the icon 10 ofthe application software (the e-mail application) is present (displayed)on the sub-display unit 142 (ST109→ST112).

If the icon is present on the sub-display unit 142, it is then selectedwhether or not the icon is to be erased from the sub-display unit 142(ST114).

In erasing the icon, it is judged whether the icon is to be erasedautomatically or manually (ST115). The icon 10 (and the data in thememory) is then erased from the sub-display unit 142 (and the sub-region142 a of the memory) automatically or through a predetermined operationof the keys or the like (ST116). If the icon is not to be erased, theicon 10 (for the e-mail application) is kept on the sub-display unit 142(and the sub-region 142 a of the memory).

If the icon is not present on the sub-display unit 142, it is judgedwhether or not there are any other active application software(ST112→ST113).

If there is another active application software, it is switched to thisapplication software, which is displayed on the main display unit 122.The process is then continued (ST113→ST102→ . . . ).

On the other hand, if there are no other active application software,the pre-set top screen is displayed (ST115→ST113→ST100).

Specific examples of the mobile phone 100 in use will be described belowwith reference to FIGS. 10 through 13, based on the operation flow shownin FIG. 9.

In the portable telephone 100 shown in FIG. 10, an audio screen 122 e isdisplayed on the main display unit 122, reproduction processing of audiodata is carried out, and a plurality of the icons 10 are displayed onthe sub-display unit 142.

For the icons 10 displayed on the sub-display unit 142, there arepre-set, in the upper row from the left, a top (initial) screen icon 10a, an icon 10 b for connecting to the Internet, an icon 10 c forexecuting a Java (R) program, an icon 10 d for e-mail and an icon 10 efor operating the camera 119. In this example, these icons 10 are alwaysdisplayed on the sub-display unit 142 in the upper row. In the bottomrow, an icon for an active application software under processing ordisplayed on the main display unit 122 is displayed. In FIG. 10, an icon10 f for audio is displayed.

The always-displayed icons 10 a to 10 e displayed on the upper row ofthe sub-display unit 142 are copy type icons. When these icons areselected, a preset screen for each application software is displayed onthe main display unit 122.

On the other hand, as for the icon displayed on the lower row of thesub-display unit 142, if it is a copy type (or a reduction copy type),display/erasure thereof is selected manually, and if it is a pointertype (or a reduction pointer type), it is automatically displayed/erasedin accordance with the activation/termination of the correspondingapplication software.

For example, if, as shown in FIG. 10, the portable telephone 100 is usedfor listening to music, the audio player software is active, and theaudio screen 122 e is displayed on the main display unit 122, and amanually or automatically generated “

” icon 10 f is displayed on the sub-display unit 142.

If under such circumstances, a telephone call is received, it isautomatically switched from the audio player software to a telephonecall software (or by operating the input/call keys 162). As shown inFIG. 11, the main display unit 122 switches to a call data screen 122 bwhich displays the telephone number of the person on the line, theduration of the call and the like. The audio player software in the mainregion in the memory is shifted to the sub-region, and reproduction ofmusic is continued or temporally stopped. Also, with the activation ofthe telephone call software, a busy icon 10 g (pointer type) indicatingthat a user is in the middle of a phone call is automatically generatedon the sub-display unit 142.

In addition, it is also possible to connect to the Internet during aphone call. For example, if the user wishes to access a web site tosearch for a restaurant, a predetermined operation is performed with theinput/call keys 162 or the operation keys 164 of the operation unit 160to thereby switch from the main display unit 122 to the sub-display unit142. Then, the “i” icon 10 b on the upper row of the sub-display unit142 is selected.

When the “i” icon 10 b is selected, a net connection software isactivated, and a web browser is displayed on the main display unit 122.Then, a desired web site is found and accessed via the Internet, and arestaurant search screen is displayed on the main display unit 122 asshown in FIG. 12. At this point, the call software processed in the mainregion of the memory is shifted to the sub-region, and processing of thephone call is continued. In addition, with the activation of the netconnection software, a “Net” icon 10 h (pointer type) is automaticallygenerated on the sub-display unit 142.

Then, in the restaurant search screen 122 c, station name, budget, kindof cuisine and the like, for example, are inputted, and information onrestaurants (such as telephone number and a map) which match the searchconditions is displayed on the main display unit 122.

At this point, a copy type (reduction copy type) icon 10H for thedisplayed screen may be generated and displayed on the sub-display unit142 through a predetermined operation with the input/call keys 162 ofthe operation unit 160 or the operation keys 164, or the displayedscreen may be saved as a copy type (reduction copy type) icon to replacethe “Net” icon 10 h (pointer type) when the net connection software isterminated. The icon 10 h for the net connection software may also beerased automatically after a predetermined period has elapsed.

Moreover, if it is desired that the information (the displayed screen)retrieved in the restaurant search screen 122 c of FIG. 12 be sent viae-mail, it is switched from the main display unit 122 to the sub-displayunit 142 through a predetermined operation of the input/call keys 162 orthe operation keys 164, and the mail icon 10 d (illustrated with adrawing of an envelope in the diagram) on the top row of the sub-displayunit 142 is selected.

When the mail icon 10 d is selected, the e-mail software is activated,and a screen for creating a new message 122 d shown in FIG. 13 isdisplayed on the main display unit 122. At the same time, a “New” icon10 i (pointer type) is automatically generated on the sub-display unit142.

Then, items such as title, addressee, main text or the like may beinputted through the input/call keys 162 or the operation keys 164 ofthe operation unit 160, and the icon 10H is attached. When the thusgenerated message is transmitted or saved, the “New” icon 10 i of thesub-display unit 142 is automatically erased (returns to the state shownin FIG. 12).

Subsequently, when Internet connection is terminated (refer to FIG. 11)and the phone connection is cut, the “Net” icon 10 h and the “busy” icon10 g of the sub-display unit 142 are automatically erased, and musicreproduction is resumed automatically or manually (returns to the stateshown in FIG. 10).

At this point, if the “

” icon 10 f is a pointer type icon, music reproduction has been ongoing,and thus when the music reproduction software is automatically ormanually reactivated after the phone call is terminated, musicreproduction is resumed in a condition where a certain period of timehas elapsed. If, on the other hand, the “

” icon 10 f is a copy type icon, music reproduction is in a state inwhich it is temporarily stopped. When the audio player software isautomatically or manually reactivated after the call is terminated,music is reproduced from the point at which it was stopped. Regardlessof whether the icon is of a pointer type or a copy type, when the audioplayer software is reactivated, the main display unit 122 displays theaudio screen 122 e.

When each of the application software is successively terminated,according to the operational flow of FIG. 9, the top (initial) screen isdisplayed on the main display unit 122. However, if, as in the caseabove, a process in which the application software used most recently isdisplayed is adopted, the restaurant search screen 122 c (refer to FIG.12), for example, is displayed on the main display unit 122. If, on theother hand, a process in which the application software whose data isupdated most frequently is displayed is adopted, the call data screen122 b (refer to FIG. 11. However, it is assumed here that the call datais updated most frequently), for example, is displayed on the maindisplay unit 122.

In addition, for the icons illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 13, “

” for example, is used for music reproduction, and “busy” is used forthe call mode, and the icons are automatically selected in accordancewith the application software. However, it is naturally possible to useother methods, such as making a selection each time an icon isgenerated, or assigning an icon by order, or the like.

Further, the main display unit 122 (one display screen) provided on thedisplay unit 120 may be divided into a main display area and asub-display area. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, in a display unit120A, if the main display area is set to be a display region (B) 122M,the sub-display area may be displayed in an upper portion of a displayunit 122A as a display region (A) 122S, or it may be displayed in thelower portion of the display unit 122A as a display region C (sub) 122S.Moreover, it is naturally possible to place one of the main display areaand the sub-display area on the right and the other on the left, or toalternate between the main and the sub-display areas as required, orplace the main and sub-display areas in positions other than thosedescribed above. Still further, the sizes of the display regions of themain display area and the sub-display area may be set arbitrarily.

Thus, in a portable telephone, other than the foldable portabletelephone 100 equipped with the main display unit 122 and thesub-display unit 142 as separate display screens as mentioned above, inwhich only one display unit is provided, similar functionality is stillachievable if the one display unit is divided, as shown in FIG. 14, intoa main display area and a sub-display area. Therefore, functionalitysimilar to those described herein may naturally be attained inapparatuses other than a portable telephone apparatus regardless ofwhether or not they are of a foldable type and of whether or not theyare equipped with a plurality of display units.

Thus, since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalents of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile phone comprising: an operation unitconfigured to receive user input on the mobile phone; a display unitincluding a main display area and a sub display area; a speaker; amemory storing a plurality of software applications executable on themobile phone, the software applications including an e-mail softwareapplication, a web browser, and an audio player software application,the web browser providing a search operation on the Internet, the memoryfurther storing identification information including a telephone number;a short-range communication unit configured to provide short-rangewireless communication; a modulator configured to modulate atransmission signal for phone call operation of the mobile phone; ademodulator configured to demodulate a reception signal for the phonecall operation of the mobile phone; a signal processor configured toprocess a demodulated signal from the demodulator and to output thetransmission signal to the modulator; an operating system executable onthe mobile phone for controlling the mobile phone; and a controllerconfigured to run said audio player software application together withanother one of said plurality of software applications in parallel, andto control what is displayed on the display unit so that in a firststate the display unit (a) always displays a first icon corresponding toa first software application of said plurality of software applicationson the sub-display area and (b) automatically displays or erases asecond icon corresponding to a second software application of saidplurality of software applications on the sub-display area depending onwhether the second software application is activated or terminated,wherein, when a predetermined operation is performed on the operationunit while in the first state when the second software application isactive, (i) said first software application becomes active, (ii) themain display area is switched from a screen for said second softwareapplication to a screen for said first software application, and (iii)in a case where said second software application is said audio playersoftware application, audio reproduction continues while said firstsoftware application is active.
 2. The mobile phone of claim 1, whereinthe short-range communication unit is Bluetooth communication unit. 3.The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to display an audio screen on the main display area of thedisplay when the audio software application is active as the secondsoftware application, and to display a call data screen on the maindisplay area and stop the audio reproduction when a phone call isreceived during the audio reproduction.
 4. The mobile phone of claim 3,wherein the controller is further configured to stop the audioreproduction temporarily when displaying a call data screen on the maindisplay area.
 5. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the controller isfurther configured to display status information of the mobile phoneincluding signal field strength, remaining battery life, and time on thesub display area.
 6. The mobile phone of claim 1, further comprising: acamera configured to capture images on the mobile phone.
 7. The mobilephone of claim 1, wherein if an icon representing an executing softwareapplication is selected from among icons being displayed in the subdisplay area, the controller displays the executing software applicationassociated with the selected icon in the main display area.
 8. Themobile phone of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured todisplay an icon representing a top screen in the sub display area, andto display the top screen to the main display area if the iconrepresenting the top screen is selected.
 9. The mobile phone of claim 1,wherein the first software application is an email application.